Post History

Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/30066
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

As with the popularity of most websites your overall chance of succes boils down to 3 factors: Content, usability and network.

**Content**  
Quite simply put, you need to produce content people not only want to absorb, but ideally interact with. Give users a space to react and form a community. That way, the discussion itself becomes additional 'content' people will come back for, even between your own postings. Encourage discussion.  
Of course, nobody will come in the first place if you're not engaging or have nothing new to say. Many popular bloggers have become so by creating a persona for themselves that allows them to tackle their subject in an Original manner.

**Usability**  
Quite simply, if your website is not easy to navigate it will annoy and turn away potential audiences. Make sure it is easy to find older posts, tag them by subject, and do everything you can to make a visit to your blog the smoothest experience possible (For more info we have an excellent UX SE).

**Network**  
This is unfortunately where you get the most traction. Known derogitorily as "circle jerk", having a steady network of other bloggers with similar reach to cooperate with allows for cross-pollination of your audiences. This can potentially exponentially grow your audience, so don't ignore it. This point really comes back to community building, which becomes easier if there is a larger information base for them to consume as a group.

Original score: 1